By: African mining

Fluorspar, a mineral historically crucial for aluminium smelting, refrigeration, and steelmaking, is gaining renewed strategic importance, particularly due to its role in the energy transition and the electric vehicle battery supply chain. According to an analysis by Dr. Nicolaas C. Steenkamp in African Mining, South Africa possesses significant and diverse geological deposits of the mineral, which comes in two primary commercial grades: high-purity acidspar (≥97% CaF₂) for chemical feedstock and lower-grade metallurgical fluorspar (metspar) used as a flux in steelmaking.

South African producers, including Vergenoeg Mining Company and the vertically integrated SepFluor, are central to the commercial conversation. The analysis notes that while metspar demand is tied to cyclical steel production, premium-priced acidspar is the critical feedstock for hydrofluoric acid (HF), which is essential for manufacturing refrigerants, fluoropolymers, and materials for lithium-ion batteries, such as electrolyte salts and binders. This positions fluorspar as a strategically important mineral for both established industries and emerging technologies.

The report concludes that South Africa's combination of diverse resource types, existing industrial players, and potential for downstream value addition (moving into HF and fluorochemical production) places the country in a strong position to capitalize on growing global demand. However, success will depend on navigating challenges like high capital costs for beneficiation plants, meeting strict product specifications, and managing environmental impacts responsibly.